WI Divers - Please contact your legislators - details inside

[JDostal]

Hello everyone - I used to post on here under the account name of "Omicron" but it appears that the account has been unused for so long it has gone inactive.

DIVERS IN WISCONSIN!!!!!!  PLEASE call your legislator today to ask them to pay attention to the the White Nose Syndrome bat law coming up for vote in the Assembly THIS WEDNESDAY.  The vote will SHUT DOWN all cave diving in Wisconsin and potentially all diving in "mines and quarries" - IE, Red Granite, Wazee, etc.  Not sure who your legislator is???  Here you go!



Ask for, at the very least, an amendment to the decontamination portion of the bill to allow entry to submerged caves and mines with gear that has been in other states.

If your rebreather or other dive gear has been outside of the state of WI it will be unable to be used in WI submerged mines, caves and quarries!  This is not the pure intent of the law but as it is written that is the impact that it will have.


Videos of the mines.  Everyone on here should know what Red Granite and Wazee are by now.

Here is video of the Piquette mine:


Here is video of the Rodham mine:



This doesn't just impact the cave divers in the state.  As the legislation is written it could shutdown diving in any and all mines and quarries so this needs to get amended.  We worked with the DNR as the law was being written but they were unwilling to change the wording as the wording had already been reviewed by their lawyers and it was too late to change it.

I've contacted as many divers as I can and have urged local dive shops to call in as well.  Your assembly person will be THRILLED to hear from someone not talking about the union mess!

[Tamara Thomsen]

The way the bill is written speaks of regulating entrance to ALL mines.  It does not discriminate against submerged mine pits (Wazee or Red Granite) or those with or without submerged tunnels. 

HELP US GET THIS WORDING CHANGED!

This is potentially bad for our entire communty!!!  Please contact your assemblyperson today!  The vote is on WEDNESDAY!!

[jeffberry]

I emailed Tom Tiffany about this!  Thanks Tami an Jason!

[Tamara Thomsen]

A slight clarification on this...it will be voted on and amendments created at the State Assembly Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday. It will then go before the full Assembly shortly thereafter...so even if your Assembly person is not on the committee, it is still IMPERATIVE that they hear from you!  Reference Clearinghouse Rule 10-123 and Geomyces dystructans (White Nose Syndrome in bats) when speaking with them.

If you want to come to the Capitol on Wednesday to voice your concern, meet at the King Street entrance at 9:30A.  Only 104 people will be allowed into the chamber at a time.  Email me if you want more specific information or talking points on the proposed bill.

Many of the assembly are unaware of this issue.  They do not know that the error in language will affect divers and cave divers who have nothing to do with dry caving.  And as Jason said, they are happy to talk to anyone about something other than union rights.

[Tamara Thomsen]

Well, our call in to your legislator campaign must be working.... Below is the latest from the DNR's Endangered Species Group. WE MUST NOT GIVE UP !!!   This looks favorable, but we can't give up until we see this written in the ammendments and have it passed into law.  Please continue to call in and speak with your assembly person!!!

If you can, show up tomorrow to speak, if you can't, call in to the legislators.

" Tami, John, Ethan : I've received a few calls from folks asking how NR 40 may impact diving. This is the information I have been sending out to callers and the legislature. Just let me know if you have any further questions.

Hi. Thanks again for your call. Below is an excerpt from our website describing the impact of the new rules on diving, as well as a link to the site. Please forward on to those you feel would like to know. Erin

Implementation of the NR 40 with regard to diving and cave diving:

• Diving in lakes, rivers or any other water surface water body is not restricted by the proposed changes to NR 40.
  
  Cave diving at sites that are fully inundated with water is also exempt from the proposed changes to NR 40.
  
  The department is currently working with the diving community to develop decontamination protocols for sump diving. While the protocols are in development, there is no restriction on sump diving.
  

"

Please continue to call and express your concern!!!  If you receive this response email or something similar from your legislator, ask that they write this into amendements (because it is not changed yet) and that they respond via email when that has occurred!

[john j]

Here is a link showing all of the representatives that are on the Committee on Natural Resources.  I just emailed all of them.



Here are all their emails (cut and paste into your email window).  Be sure to put your name, address and phone number in your message or it may get rejected.

rep.rivard@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.williamsm@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.kleefisch@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.nerison@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.ottj@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.severson@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.steineke@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.tiffany@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.molepske@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.danou@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.clark@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.milroy@legis.wisconsin.gov; rep.hulsey@legis.wisconsin.gov;Rep.mursau@legis.wisconsin.gov; Rep.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov

[firstbreath]

man...tough time to be a teacher who enjoys diving his/her spare time in Wisconsin.

[Tamara Thomsen]

OK...so it looks like the battle is over for now.  As of 3:04PM today, the DNR officially posted their updated protocol under section NR 4040.07 ( 8 ) © 1., 2. and 3.   This is the version that will be reviewed in committee tomorrow in the assembly.  They are backing away from restricting scuba gear that has been used in other states, backing away from decontamination of any scuba diving equipment, and backed away from restricting entry to any body of water, cave or mines- submerge tunnels or pits.

This just goes to show that a small dedicated group of people can come together and make big changes in only a matter of days!

Thanks everyone for helping with this effort!

[JDostal]

Thank you very much to everyone that made their voice heard - awesome to see how a few people can help bring about change and positive action.

[john j]

I also want to thank everyone who helped.